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Centre constitutes panel on Koodankulam nuke project
Agri Ministry for Rs
115 hike in wheat MSP
Armed youth breaches Rahul Gandhi’s security
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Nepal PM in India for cementing ties
Yeddyurappa's bail plea hearing adjourned
Debate on graft has served its purpose: PM
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Centre constitutes panel on Koodankulam nuke project
New Delhi, October 20 “The Department of Atomic Energy has constituted an expert group of 15 specialists with an objective of interacting with the officials of state government of Tamil Nadu and spokespersons of the people in the neighbourhood of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu,” it was announced here. The expert group would explain the factual position on various aspects of the project and also dispel apprehensions of some sections of the local people. The group comprises renowned academicians, scientists, doctors and engineers specializing in areas like environmental science, radiation safety, nuclear reactor design, nuclear
reactor safety, nuclear regulatory aspects, nuclear waste management, oncology, oceanography, fisheries, thermal ecology, seismology etc. The Tamil Nadu Government would also be requested to provide an appropriate platform where the expert group could meet the officials and the people concerned to deliberate on issues raised in the recent times such as seismicity, tsunami, radiation in the environment, impact on fishing, thermal ecology and waste management. The panel includes A E Muthunayagam, Vice-Chancellor, Nurul Islam University; V Shantha, noted oncologist and Chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute; MR Iyer, former Director of Division of Radiation Safety at International Atomic Energy Agency and CS Ramesh, Associate Professor and Surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital. In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, people of the area have launched a massive agitation, demanding that the Centre immediately halt the Russia-supported project. Delegations representing the people of the area have also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard. The PM has written twice to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to dispel any concerns about the safety of the project.
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Agri Ministry for Rs
115 hike in wheat MSP
New Delhi, October 20 Yesterday, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had said that MSP of rabi (winter) crops, including wheat, would be taken up in the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA). According to sources, the ministry has circulated a CCEA note among various ministries recommending Rs 1,285 per quintal as MSP for wheat for the 2012-13 marketing year starting April 1. Wheat's support price for 2011-12 was Rs 1,170 per quintal, including a bonus of Rs 50 per quintal. The government announces the support price for more than 20 crops just before the sowing season. The government buys wheat and paddy from farmers at the MSP to ensure assured returns to growers. The MSP also acts as benchmark price for the market. The Ministry has recommended a significant hike in wheat MSP in view
of rising input cost of labour, electricity, diesel and fertilisers. Since the UPA government came into power in 2004, the MSP of wheat Country's wheat production has improved in the last few years and touched an all-time high of 85.93 million tonnes in the 2010-11 crop year. Experts said higher support price has played a big role in the record wheat output. — PTI
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Armed youth breaches Rahul Gandhi’s security
Lucknow, October 20 During his one-day visit to his Parliamentary constituency, Rahul was scheduled to address a public meeting to inaugurate a branch of a bank. The youth armed with a licensed revolver tried to enter the venue reportedly to give the leader an application. In his twenties, the youth named Ashish Soni alias Benarsi was nabbed by Special Protection Group (SPG) sleuths and handed over to the district police. Speaking to local news channels, Soni said he wanted to hand over an application to Rahul Gandhi regarding inaction of the police in investigating the murder of his father and brothers in April 2011. Following the murder, he has been carrying the licensed revolved in self-defence, he claimed. Unperturbed by the commotion created following the breach of his personal security, Rahul Gandhi inaugurated the branch of Corporation Bank at Ram Lila ground and distributed kisan credit cards and loans to farmers. Speaking on the occasion, the Amethi MP assured the gathering that with the Adhaar card becoming a reality in the coming few years, the rupee sent to the common man for development would directly reach his account instead of just 15 paise trickling down. Earlier, some people stopped his cavalcade at Ekelwa Chauraha in Tiloi Assembly segment, requesting him not to field candidates who did not have a “clean image” in the state elections. Rahul assured people that only candidates with clean image would be given the party ticket in the coming Assembly elections. “Only clean and good people would be given ticket by the Congress,” he maintained.
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IGAL to project India as investment destination
Chandigarh, October 20 Stating this here today, IGAL president Carl Gustav Lonnborg said issues pertaining to investment were among the key agenda items being deliberated at during IGAL’s ongoing annual conference here. The organisation is a business network of legal and accounting firms the members of which offer services related to legal, financial, tax and insolvency matters to companies and individuals engaged in international activities. It also renders assistance to reduce the obstacles of doing business in a foreign environment. About 90 delegates from 40 countries are attending the annual conference. Lonnborg said a committee to study the tax structure, associated legislations and rules has been set up to provide inputs and advice for investment. “Our purpose is to pool in resources and share information to assist members to execute their legal tasks and peruse their professional interests in different countries,” he said. Experts in the field also gave presentations on associated subjects. Prof Dipankar Gupta from the University Business School, Delhi University, spoke on legal ethics, while Puneet Vatsyan, chairman of The Indus Entrepreneurs, discussed IT-enabled services in India. Munish Jauhar, a local IT professional, gave a presentation on IT tools for legal and accounting practices.
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disproportionate assets case
Bangalore, October 20 She appeared in the hearing held in the court hall in the central prison here in view of her security concerns today, to furnish her statement in an over a decade-old disproportionate assets case. This is her first appearance in the court, nearly eight years after the case was shifted to the city from Chennai to ensure free and fair trial. Jayalalithaa is charged with amassing Rs 66 crore between 1991 and 1996 when she was the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
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Nepal PM in India for cementing ties
New Delhi, October 20 Bhattarai is seen as an acceptable leader for New Delhi and there is hope that he will act as a bridge to improve ties between the two neighbours. He will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders tomorrow. With political uncertainty continuing in Nepal, India is expected to nudge Bhattarai to expedite the peace process and frame a new constitution in the Himalayan nation. New Delhi seems pleased over the fact that Bhattarai has come to India on his first bilateral visit abroad after taking charge as Nepal's Prime Minister less than two months ago. He had held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York last month on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The Nepalese PM is expected to brief New Delhi about recent political developments and seek its support in giving a push to the peace process in his country. Nepal believes that India can use its leverage with all political parties and formations in Nepal to push forward the peace process. The integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist cadre continues to divide the Maoists and the Nepali Congress. The two countries are expected to sign accords for improving the power situation in Nepal and launching of some infrastructure projects. However, no pact with long-term implications like the extradition treaty is going to be signed. Soon after his arrival, Bhattarai addressed a meeting organised by the South Asia Forum, calling for a “People's SAARC" to forge unity among the people of South Asia even as he criticised Marxists in the sub-continent. "We want to create a real federation of South Asia," he said. Bhattarai said his Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist had proposed the idea of a "People's SAARC" almost 10 years ago. "However, in the process some people in Nepal branded us pro-India while, surprisingly, some in India called us anti-India." He called for unity between the people of India and Nepal.
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Oz honour for Amitabh
New Delhi, October 20 Australia's High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese said, "I congratulate Bachchan on his honorary doctorate from QUT, an important academic institution in my home city of Brisbane. Bachchan has made an inestimable contribution to global cinema and this prestigious award is a marker of the impact of his films in Australia." Varghese said, "The rise of Bollywood in Australia reflects the phenomenal growth that is taking place across the spectrum of the Australia-India relationship. In accepting this award he (Amitabh) will encourage the important cultural conversation between our countries."
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Yeddyurappa's bail plea hearing adjourned
Bangalore, October 20 Having spent three days in two hospitals after being sent to judicial custody till October 22 by the Lokayukta Court, Yeddyurappa returned to the central prison yesterday morning and has been lodged there since then. Yeddyurappa’s counsel today told the judge that he was no more the Chief Minister and would not be able to tamper with evidence even if he wanted to. Yeddyurappa was sent to judicial custody in two of the five cases of corruption.
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Debate on graft has served its purpose: PM
New Delhi, October 20 He sought to give out a strong message against corruption, assuring that the government is committed to cleaning up the system. Speaking to mediapersons on a wide range of issues on his way back from Pretoria, South Africa, after attending the IBSA Summit, he sounded combative on several contentious issues. On being asked if Anna Hazare and his team have been targeting the government, the PM said Anna’s movement has served its purpose which may have been providing a subtle hint that more agitation on the issue may not be very fruitful and the job now lies with the government. “I think we are all working to ensure that we have in place, before long, an effective Lokpal Bill in Parliament, which will be an assurance to people at large that corruption cannot flourish as a way of life”, the PM said. He condemned the recent attacks on Team Anna members, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal and said there is no place for violence in a democracy.
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disproportionate assets case
